Borghese Gallery

Why the Borghese Gallery in Rome is special
The Borghese Gallery is one of the world's finest small art museums. It's a favorite among art insiders. The splendid art collection was initiated in the early 1600s by Cardinal Scipione Borghese. It is housed in his palace-like dwelling.

The highlight is the extensive collection of early marble statues of Bernini.

Borghese Gallery tips & insights
Museum's most famous artworks
Two stand out:

• Apollo and Daphne
  This 1625 statue propelled Bernini into international stardom.
• Pauline Borghese
  The model for Canova's reclining statue of Venus was Napoleon's sister, the Princess Pauline Borghese. She created a scandal in staid European aristocracy because she posed voluptuously bare from her head down to her upper pelvic area.

Other renowned artwork
Statuary:

• David
  Bernini
  
• Rape of Persephone
  Bernini

Paintings:

• David and Goliath
  Correggio
  
• Deposition
  Rubens
  
• Sacred and Profane Love
  Titian

Make reservations far ahead
The petite museum can accommodate few people during each 2-hour visitor period. I recommend you make your reservations a month or more in advance. You can obtain them online through various websites.

Is there an audio tour?
There is one and it's decent, but the live tour guide makes the artwork come to life.

Borghese Museum's location in Rome
It sits on the edge of Villa Borghese, by far Rome's largest park.

Location in Italy